Four Delicate Offenders – CH 002

Chapter 2. There Are Not So Many Indispensable People.

Xuepan watched her father’s figure disappear into the distance, then turned back and chuckled, “She’s marrying a noble family; what a bargain for her!”

Liu-niang slowly and deliberately sipped her tea. The broken tea leaves turned into a thick, inky soup, and even when mixed with water, the uneven distribution of the clumps was still visible.

Tasting it carefully, she felt a heavy, lingering astringency, like medicine. Actually, she never liked tea; she preferred the sweet bean soup and lychee syrup sold in the market, their sweetness straightforward and honest. However, in a wealthy and noble family, one could not treat such amorous drinks as their main beverage. The head of the household enjoyed fine tea, and the tea itself was elegant, so she must also pretend to enjoy tea.

Turning her hand, she placed the teacup on the small table, stretching the wrinkles on her knees, and said, “Her mother is a county princess, so she is practically a member of the imperial clan. Naturally, she should be betrothed to a noble family.”

Xuepan had always resented this elder sister. In her eyes, Yunpan’s only advantage over her was her birth. If she had been born into the county princess’s family, who knew who would have stood out more!

Now, Jiang Yunpan, relying on being the legitimate daughter, always overshadowed her and Yupan. Yupan was content with just food and drink; the power struggles between legitimate and illegitimate children were only her elder sisters’ business, not hers. If you explained the advantages and disadvantages to her, she seemed to understand at the time, nodding vigorously, but she would forget everything the moment someone turned away. Therefore, no one ever discussed matters with her.

However resentful they felt, the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children was indeed vast. Within the inner quarters, they might not suffer much due to their fathers’ favoritism, but within the circles of noble ladies in Youzhou, they were forever inferior. For example, the annual Flower Banquet was only open to legitimate daughters; illegitimate daughters were not even allowed to observe. Furthermore, in terms of marriage, legitimate daughters were married to high-ranking officials, while illegitimate daughters were either married to minor officials or became the second wives of officials.

Xuepan had extremely high aspirations. She certainly did not believe she would have such a fate. A voice deep within her told her that she was destined for greatness. She only stared at Yunpan. Yunpan’s good marriage fueled her resentment towards the unfairness of the world, and she did not hesitate to say it even to her mother: “It would be better if she married a poor scholar!”

Liu-niang thought her daughter was too naive. “Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Even if she married a poor scholar, your father would not agree. What noble family would want a nameless man?”

Xuepan finally deflated, sitting there muttering incessantly.

Liu-niang smiled and said gently, “She is still your sister. Harmony is precious between sisters. You must always be humble and respectful towards her, and do not put your father in a difficult position. Your parents cannot be with you until old age. If she becomes prominent in the future, it will benefit you. If you encounter any difficulties, you can help each other.”

Xuepan looked at her mother with surprise for a long time, finally squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth, “Mother is becoming more and more timid.”

Liu-niang was not annoyed, leaning against her pillow and looking out the window.

The late spring sun grew increasingly intense, casting double shadows on the red-lacquered swing in the courtyard, a sight that, if stared at for too long, could cause dizziness.

She squinted, a knowing glimpse of worldly wisdom in her eyes. “If I had been as reckless as you, I would not be where I am today. To rely solely on one’s beauty to please one’s husband will forever keep one a lowly concubine, a plaything. But if one possesses the virtues of a mistress, coupled with the husband’s favor, then why worry about being a concubine forever? Living longer means having everything.”

***

The inner courtyards of a large mansion were never short of gossip. News that the Marquis’s Mansion, unable to contain itself, had sent a matchmaker to visit the Duke’s Mansion quickly reached the Pixiu Courtyard.

Nanny Pan was the county princess’s personal attendant, and she had also helped raise Yunpan; she was a caring old woman. She gathered the news from the door and returned, complaining indignantly, “If Madam were still alive, such a thing would not have happened! The young lady is in mourning, the marriage is on hold, and the Duke’s Mansion has been waiting for a year. Logically, they should be the ones anxious, not the other way around. There’s no reason for a family to rush to send a matchmaker to inform the bride’s family as soon as her mourning period ends. Who came up with this petty idea? Even without asking, it’s obvious.”

Nanny Pan, with her sleeves tucked in, looked on with indignation, her eyes peeking at the corner of the wall; she muttered, “To be frank, our master is getting more and more confused. He’s been instigated by those scoundrels, and he has absolutely no manners befitting a noble family! Although the Li family has made the engagement, it’s still a new marriage, and we must be especially careful before the wedding. After the bride marries, she will have her sisters-in-law; if people start gossiping from the beginning, will they not look down on her even more later?”

Yunpan felt helpless, too. The argument she had with her father that day was the cause, leading them to consider sending her away as soon as possible.

Yes, how long could a daughter stay in her parents’ home? At most, she would be raised until she was fifteen or sixteen, then betrothed and married. Liu-niang had already outlived the mistress; it wouldn’t be too difficult for her to outlive the troublesome legitimate daughter as well.

It was a pity her mother only gave birth to her, and it was a pity she was not a man; this family would ultimately fall into Liu’s hands; after all, she bore her father’s only son. Fortunately, when Liu-niang came to their door, her mother had been shrewd, insisting she enter the household as a slave.

While a wine seller in the market was lowly, she was still of good status. Good status offered endless possibilities; for example, if her husband was not afraid of public ridicule, he could openly make her his wife. But slaves were different; to rise in status, one must first be freed. Liu-niang’s slave certificate was now in Yunpan’s hands, which was why her father, wanting to elevate Liu-niang’s status, first consulted with her.

Anyway, she was not in a hurry. Even if she married into the Duke’s Mansion, she would bring that contract. As long as she lived, Liu-niang could forget about becoming the wife of a founding marquis. What chilled her heart was her father’s coldness. When her mother was alive, he at least paid lip service; after her mother’s death, he became so cold-blooded that he disregarded even the bonds of blood.

“Never mind, it’s nothing serious. Yunpan’s personality is not actually that strong. As long as they do not provoke her, living in separate courtyards and minimizing contact will be fine.”

Her mother had regretted her youthful impulsiveness for over a decade, and those painful reflections ultimately fueled her motivation to prepare a dowry for her daughter. Besides the county princess’s estate and property she had accumulated, there were also various types of paper money from the brokerage shop.

With money came confidence, and Yunpan was not bothered by her father’s actions. Sitting by the window, she rummaged through her dressing case, found two tea certificates, and instructed Qin-Dan with downcast eyes: “Recently, tea transportation from beyond the Great Wall has been disrupted, making tea scarce and unprofitable. This is a good time to sell. Have Juan-Bai find a broker to find a suitable buyer to convert the tea into cash, and then exchange it for salt and incense certificates.”

Buying low and selling high—she had been personally managing this since she was thirteen. Her mother was keen to teach her these things, saying they were the ways to manage a household and become the mistress of the house.

Qin-Dan went out to handle the matter, and Yunpan finally had time to attend to the news brought by Nanny Pan. She turned to her nanny and said, “It’s only natural for Father to arrange marriages for his children. Although I feel it’s inappropriate, I have no choice. It’s been half a month since the mourning period ended, and the Duke’s Mansion has not sent anyone. I wonder what their plans are.” She paused, then asked, “Have you found out if it was the wife of the Transport Commissioner who personally visited the Duke’s Mansion?”

The wife of the Transport Commissioner was a close friend of the Duke’s wife. It was she who had tirelessly worked to arrange this marriage. Father asked her to convey that they were seriously discussing marriage; if the Duke’s Mansion intended to marry, they should have actively reached out.

“It was indeed the Transport Commissioner’s wife who went personally,” said Nanny Pan. “But our lady is no longer here, so there’s no one to report back to. Although Liu-niang is eager to manage the household, the noble ladies of high standing do not treat her like a human being. If the eldest daughter’s marriage is reported to a concubine, would the Transport Commissioner’s wife also not be considered someone who does not understand etiquette?”

Yunpan nodded, saying nothing more. The marriage was arranged last year. She did not have a deep impression of the second son of the Duke’s Mansion; she had only met him once and remembered him as being polite and refined, but she could not even recall his appearance. She was indifferent to the marriage. If the Duke’s Mansion was in a hurry, they could arrange a date, and she would marry him. If they were not in a hurry, she could wait. After all, she had seen her mother’s mutual affection end in vain; marriage was just a binding arrangement, not something so irreplaceable.

She sent Nanny Pan away and, in her spare time, continued making incense and ink sticks according to ancient recipes. Her days in her boudoir passed by at a leisurely pace.

Two days later, her father sent word that the whole family should have dinner together that evening. Yunpan knew there must be a response from the Duke’s Mansion; her days in this household were probably numbered.

She stepped out of the house and stood on the porch, looking east. That was the courtyard where her mother had once lived, very close; she could see the dark blue roof ridges and eaves.

Just as the sun was about to set, the world was bathed in a vast, brilliant light. Suddenly, a dandelion seed flew over the courtyard wall, carried by golden rays, and landed before her. She reached out to catch it; the teardrop-shaped stem at the bottom landed between her fingers, the delicate, fluffy cap trembling slightly. She held it carefully, the bluish veins on her wrist glowing a warm orange-red in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Qin-Dan teased, “Miss loved playing with this when she was little, and now that she’s grown up, she still does.”

Yunpan blew on it, sending it flying, and said enviously, “If only people could be like it, riding the wind for miles, then taking root and sprouting new shoots the following year.”

It was just a young girl’s wistful thought. Qin-Dan handed her a fan and helped her down the steps. The banquet tonight was held in the pavilion. Passing through the long wooden corridor, one could see bamboo curtains draped along the sides of the pavilion and gauze lanterns hanging high above. Everyone from Concubine Liu’s household had already arrived. The youngest boy, Jiang Mi, was only six years old and was kneeling on a stool, eating fruit from a plate.

When Concubine Liu saw her, a smile spread across her face. She tucked her handkerchief and said, “Miss, please sit for a while. I’ve already called your father.”

Yunpan disliked that she always addressed the head of the household as “your father,” feeling it was a deliberate attempt to curry favor and elevate herself. Although Liu-niang had seen a lot at the Founding Marquis’s Mansion over the years, she still possessed an inherently shrewd and opportunistic nature, a flaw that even her father’s doting affection could not cure.

The wet nurse quickly took the young boy down and pushed him forward, saying, “Call her ‘elder sister.'”

Jiang Mi disliked greeting people; the more you pushed him, the more he shrank back, rolling his eyes as if someone always owed him a couple of copper coins.

Yunpan looked away, too lazy to argue with a child. Xuepan, though unwilling, still called out “elder sister” along with Yupan.

Jiang Heng arrived shortly after, and everyone bowed to him. The argument of the past few days left no trace on his face; he casually crossed his arms and raised his chin. “Sit down, everyone.”

Yunpan, Xuepan, and Yupan took their seats, and even Jiang Mi had his own place. Only Liu-niang stood to the side, helping the maids serve the dishes. This was the status of a concubine; no matter how favored she was in her own courtyard, she was never seated at the same table as the master of the house, and while her children were the masters, she remained a slave.

Jiang Heng glanced at the hem of Liu-niang’s skirt, clearly intending to flatter her, but feigning nonchalance. He lowered his head, holding his chopsticks, and said, “You should sit down too.”

Liu-niang hesitated, glancing cautiously at Yunpan. Yunpan, not wanting to offend her father, relented, “Please sit, Aunt. There are no outsiders here.”

With no outsiders, she could make do; with outsiders, she naturally had to follow etiquette. Concubine Liu understood the implication: in these times of distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, even she had to be subservient to a sixteen-year-old.

Jiang Heng was fairly satisfied with the atmosphere at the banquet. Smiling, he said, “The Duke’s Mansion sent their chief secretary to discuss the marriage of the second son of the Li family. They said the second son of the Li family passed the imperial examination this spring and became a Jinshi. If we can hold the marriage now, it would be a double celebration. I am very happy to hear this. The Li family is related to the imperial family, and the eldest son is a secretary in the Ministry of Rites. With the second son entering officialdom, there’s no need to worry about his future. Now that I think about it, your mother has indeed planned a good future for you. It’s common practice to find a son-in-law after passing the imperial examinations; if we arrange it in advance, we will not be in a rush.”

Upon hearing this, Liu-niang smiled and praised, “I’ve long heard that the second son of the Li family is both literate and martial. I did not expect him to pass the imperial examination this year. Indeed, Her Highness has the best eye.” She then asked Jiang Heng, “Whether the date is auspicious or not is a matter of much discussion. Has the Duke’s Mansion decided?”

Jiang Heng replied, “It’s set for the second day of the sixth month, about twenty days from now.”

Liu-niang’s expression turned worried again. “That’s too rushed. How can we possibly prepare?”

Xuepan almost resented her mother’s unnecessary flattery. “Auntie, you are overthinking it. The Duke’s Mansion has enough time for the wedding procession. Father is marrying off his daughter; how can he not have enough time?”

Yupan’s reaction was always a little slower than others. It seemed she was only now coming to her senses, looking at Yunpan in surprise. “Elder Sister, you are getting married?”

Yunpan did not dislike her; she simply smiled calmly.

Liu-niang had been carefully observing Yunpan’s reaction. Seeing that she did not seem offended, a great weight was lifted from her heart. She frowned and smiled, saying with a touch of melancholy, “I was afraid that the preparations would not be thorough enough and that I might wrong my mistress. It’s a pity the Lady has passed away; there’s no one in the family to consult with them. Such a significant matter can only be handled entirely according to their wishes.”